howard sinn Chapter 1
Professor Evans
Geo 101 sec 8
22 January 2014
Zinn chapter 1 The primary topic of chapter one in “A People’s History Of The United States” by Howard Zinn is the viewpoint of history through the eyes of the Indians during the time of the discovery of the Americas. He also goes on to say how in history many cruel and unjust things are left out or briefly told and immediately covered up. Many people view Columbus as a hero when they think of him. He did amazing things, he sailed the unknown and discovered new lands. But what most people don’t know is what happened to the people already living on these lands when he and other explorers showed up. Our praise and treatment of these types of heroes is in its own way a form of acceptance and justification of the cruel deeds carried out by these men in the name of progress. He feels that history is told through the point of view of governments and leaders to conceal the truth of the people who had to pay an unjust price for the sake of others they probably did not know. He gives many examples within his book that shows how certain facts are covered up or briefly brought up and dismissed. When studying or just sharing history it is important to have a full understanding of all points of views. When told from just one point of view people may not be as they seem or are portrayed. Zinn tells of the treatment of Native Americans in the first chapter. He tells us how since the first day white settlers appeared on shore how kindly they acted towards them. They brought them gifts and many items. They never acted in any way to provoke violence towards them. They were treated inhuman and extremely wrong for no just reason. They were massacred and put to do intense labor for an excessive amount of time. They often died due to malnourishment, illness, extreme labor, or by the hands of the explorers themselves. He never tells of a time where the natives acted out first in violence towards them. These violent actions were
Geo 101 sec 8
22 January 2014
Zinn chapter 1 The primary topic of chapter one in “A People’s History Of The United States” by Howard Zinn is the viewpoint of history through the eyes of the Indians during the time of the discovery of the Americas. He also goes on to say how in history many cruel and unjust things are left out or briefly told and immediately covered up. Many people view Columbus as a hero when they think of him. He did amazing things, he sailed the unknown and discovered new lands. But what most people don’t know is what happened to the people already living on these lands when he and other explorers showed up. Our praise and treatment of these types of heroes is in its own way a form of acceptance and justification of the cruel deeds carried out by these men in the name of progress. He feels that history is told through the point of view of governments and leaders to conceal the truth of the people who had to pay an unjust price for the sake of others they probably did not know. He gives many examples within his book that shows how certain facts are covered up or briefly brought up and dismissed. When studying or just sharing history it is important to have a full understanding of all points of views. When told from just one point of view people may not be as they seem or are portrayed. Zinn tells of the treatment of Native Americans in the first chapter. He tells us how since the first day white settlers appeared on shore how kindly they acted towards them. They brought them gifts and many items. They never acted in any way to provoke violence towards them. They were treated inhuman and extremely wrong for no just reason. They were massacred and put to do intense labor for an excessive amount of time. They often died due to malnourishment, illness, extreme labor, or by the hands of the explorers themselves. He never tells of a time where the natives acted out first in violence towards them. These violent actions were